Is it just us, or does eating outside make food taste better?

Catch some rays or laze in the shade at one of these 30+ Charlotte patios. Pro tip: Don’t miss the shade level we’ve included for each of these locations.

🍽️ Restaurants

The Goodyear House, 3032 N. Davidson St., Charlotte | Partially shaded
Dine under the shade of a tree or under a pergola + play cornhole or bocce ball while savoring the Iberico Spare Ribs.

Flight, 1949 E. 7th St., Charlotte | Partially shaded
Sip wine + share bites with your friends under the pergola at Elizabeth's newest dinner spot.

STK, 201 S. College St., Charlotte | Shade available upon request
Soak up the sun during social hour (starting at 2:30 p.m.) while surrounded by the bustle of Uptown.

Calle Sol's newest SouthPark location now features a large patio perfect for a large group or date night. | Photo via Calle Sol

Calle Sol Latin Café & Cevicheria, 3100 Apex Dr., Charlotte | Mostly sunny
Savor the flavors from Cuba and Peru, from sandwiches to Latin American dinner staples, cocktails and desserts.

STIR, 1422 S. Tryon St., Charlotte | Shade available upon request
Reserve a spot for brunch or dinner under an umbrella, awning, or open skies.

300 East, 300 East Blvd., Charlotte | Shade available upon request
This Charlotte staple provides front-porch seating + was featured on Food Network’s “Diners, Drive-Ins & Dives.”

Dean's Italian Steakhouse, 128 E. Brooklyn Village Ave., Charlotte | Fully covered
Treat yourself to a steak dinner for a memorable evening in the heart of Uptown.

Tommy Bahama Marlin Bar | 335 Barclay Downs Dr., Charlotte | Fully covered
Taste the coastal life in the heart of SouthPark with a surf and turf menu, signature cocktails, and live music on the patio.

Sitting on the Mariposa patio, diners get a birds-eye view of The Green. | Photo via Mariposa

Mariposa, 500 S. Tryon St., Charlotte | Fully covered
Experience upscale dining + plates to share with gorgeous city views.

Hello, Sailor, 20210 Henderson Rd., Cornelius | Shade available upon request
Savor fresh fish with a Southern flair while surrounded by scenic views of Lake Norman.

Trolley Barn Fermentory & Food Hall, 2104 South Blvd., Charlotte | Partially shaded
With refreshing cocktails and three food stalls to choose from, take in views of the Rail Trail + Uptown on the patio of this 1890's-era trolley car maintenance garage.

Catalina Kitchen and Bar, 1942 E. 7th St., Charlotte | Partially shaded
Savor brunch, lunch, or dinner every night under twinkling lights or an umbrella on this patio nestled in Elizabeth.

The Degenerate, 2116 N Davidson St. Ste. A, Charlotte | Partially shaded
Enjoy drinks, dinner, or brunch against the bustle of Noda.

Margaux's Wine, Pizza & Market, 316 Main St., Pineville | Partially shaded
Bite into a slice of pizza cooked inside a 100-year-old historic building from this locally-owned spot in downtown Pineville.

A great time to visit Mizu is just before sunset. Lucky guests will get a pristine sunset view over the SouthPark skyline from the rooftop balcony. | Photo by CLTtoday

🌆 Rooftops

Aura Rooftop, 124 E. Brooklyn Village Ave., Charlotte | Shade available upon request
Dine and drink on the JW Marriott Charlotte rooftop lounge or reserve a cabana for a pool day.

Merchant + Trade, 303 S. Church St., Charlotte | Shade available upon request
Enjoy elevated bites and cocktails with a near-360-degree view of Uptown.

Fahrenheit, 220 S. Caldwell St., Charlotte | Mostly sunny
Pamper yourself with an upscale dinner and cocktails with a birds-eye-view of Uptown.

Nuvole Rooftop TwentyTwo, 220 E. Trade St., Charlotte | Shade available upon request
Known as Charlotte's highest indoor/outdoor rooftop lounge, savor craft cocktails and open air surrounded by Uptown's largest buildings.

Charlotte Beer Garden,1300 S. Tryon St., Charlotte | Mostly sunny
Sip a brew from the world's largest draft beer selection surrounded by trees and South End views.

Hestia, 14819 Ballantyne Village Wy., Charlotte | Partially shaded
Relish the Uptown views from south Charlotte while sampling a plethora of sushi.

Mizu, 3100 Apex Dr., Charlotte | Mostly sunny
Experience the art of ancient Japanese cooking combined with Southern flare in this SouthPark date spot.

Rosie's Coffee & Wine Garden serves wine and coffee surrounded by a pristine two-acre garden. | Photo via Rosie's Coffee & Wine Garden

☕️ Coffee shops

HEX Coffee, Kitchen and Natural Wines, 201 Camp Rd., Ste. 103, Charlotte | Partially shaded
Find a seat at a table or bench surrounded by dozens of native plants and a fresh cup of joe in the heart of Camp North End.

Rosie's Cafe & Wine Garden, 940 N. Davidson St., Charlotte | Partially shaded
Enjoy a hot (or iced) coffee in the garden under a lush tree canopy + rose garden.

Giddy Goat Coffee Roasters, 1217 The Plaza, Charlotte | Partially shaded
Perfect for a solo coffee, work day, or hangout — enjoy a cold brew or latte under trees or the rooftop patio.

Not Just Coffee, 1026 Jay St., Charlotte | Mostly sunny
This neighborhood spot offers a place to work or grab a light bite under canopy.

Queen City Grounds, 644 N. Church St., Charlotte | Mostly sunny
Find this coffee shop in walking distance to Discovery Place Science and the Charlotte Ballet — it serves specialty coffee and fresh foods.

Summit Coffee — SouthPark, 4625 Piedmont Row Dr., Ste. 115C, Charlotte
Partially shaded | Sit under an umbrella and savor that morning (or afternoon) cup of coffee while watching neighbors walk by.

The region is home to a host of activities and experiences that make for the perfect autumnal trip. | Photo provided by Charlotte Regional Visitors Authority

🍻 Bars and breweries

Olde Mecklenburg Brewery — LoSo, 4150 Yancey Rd., Charlotte | Partially shaded
The Olde Mecklenburg Brewery Biergarten is the largest in the Southeast + dog-friendly.

Sycamore Brewing, 2151 Hawkins St., Charlotte | Partially shaded
The beer garden boasts ample benched seating + umbrellas for complete comfort.

Birdsong Brewing, 1016 N. Davidson St., Charlotte | Mostly sunny
Sample from the daily food trucks on site under a canopy or umbrella on Birdsong's patio.

Great Wagon Road Distillery, 610 Anderson St., Charlotte | Partially shaded
Enjoy live music while sitting at the covered benches and tables outside.

Petty Thieves Brewing, 413 Dalton Ave., Ste. B, Charlotte | Partially shaded
This unique brewery provides canopy-covered seating outdoors with views of Uptown.

NoDa Brewing Co., 150 W. 32nd St., Charlotte | Partially shaded
Beer lovers will find canopy-covered seating + plenty of green space for cornhole or disc golf.

Edge City Brewery, 6209 Old Post Rd., Ste. 109, Charlotte | Partially shaded
Enjoy live music and vendor markets under the patio + dog-friendly green space.

The patio at Suffolk Punch in SouthPark offers unobstructed views to the playground at SouthPark Mall. | Photo via Suffolk Punch—SouthPark

🎳 Kid-friendly

The Suffolk Punch — SouthPark, 4400 Sharon Rd., Space G23D, Charlotte | Shade available upon request
Parents can dine on the patio while watching their kids play in South Park Mall's playground + children eat free on Sundays after 4 p.m.

Pins Mechanical, 307 W. Tremont Ave., Charlotte | Partially shaded
Enjoy a large game of Jenga or classic arcade games on the covered patio or rooftop.

Seoul Food Meat Company — Mill District, 421 E. 26th St., Ste. A, Charlotte | Partially shaded
Children of all ages can splash around on the splash pad in the summer or enjoy the venue's playground.

Camp North End, 300 Camp Rd., Charlotte | Partially shaded
With plenty of space to run around, children can build with giant legos or enjoy a movie night on the green.